56700 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No.
192 / Thursday, October 4, 2007 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2007–28980; Directorate
Identifier 2007–CE–071–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft
Industries, a.s. (Type Certificate No.
G24EU Formerly Held by LETECKÉ
ZÁVODY a.s. and LET Aeronautical
Works) Model L–13 Blanik Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed
AD results from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI)
originated by an aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct
an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
prompted by the discovery of cracks on L13
BLANIK sailplanes in zones where the
forward and aft control sticks are attached to
the connecting rod, designated as ‘‘control
bridge’’ in the relevant Illustrated Parts
Catalogues (IPC). If left uncorrected, cracks
could propagate and lead to failure of the
connecting rod with subsequent loss of
control of the sailplane.
The proposed AD would require
actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by November 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at http://
VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:11 Oct 03, 2007 Jkt 214001
www.regulations.gov; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The
street address for the Docket Office
(telephone (800) 647–5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Davison, Glider Program Manager, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone: (816) 329–4130; fax: (816)
329–4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written
relevant data, views, or arguments about
this proposed AD. Send your comments
to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No.
FAA–2007–28980; Directorate Identifier
2007–CE–071–AD’’ at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite
comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy
aspects of this proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this
proposed AD because of those
comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European
Community, has issued AD No.: 2007–
0212 (referred to after this as ‘‘the
MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition
for the specified products. The MCAI
states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
prompted by the discovery of cracks on L13
BLANIK sailplanes in zones where the
forward and aft control sticks are attached to
the connecting rod, designated as ‘‘control
bridge’’ in the relevant Illustrated Parts
Catalogues (IPC). If left uncorrected, cracks
could propagate and lead to failure of the
connecting rod with subsequent loss of
control of the sailplane.
For the reasons described above, this AD
requires an inspection of the control bridge
to detect cracks and replacement, if
necessary. In addition, this AD requires an
update of the aircraft Maintenance Manual
(MM) to incorporate repetitive inspections of
the control bridge.
PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\04OCP1.SGM
You may obtain further information
by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
LET Aircraft Industries, a.s. has
issued Mandatory Bulletin MB No.: L13/
105a, dated May 22, 2007. The actions
described in this service information are
intended to correct the unsafe condition
identified in the MCAI.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of the Proposed AD
This product has been approved by
the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation
in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with this State of
Design Authority, they have notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the
MCAI and service information
referenced above. We are proposing this
AD because we evaluated all
information and determined the unsafe
condition exists and is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This Proposed AD
and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and
related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But
we might have found it necessary to use
different words from those in the MCAI
to ensure the AD is clear for U.S.
operators and is enforceable. In making
these changes, we do not intend to differ
substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related
service information.
We might also have proposed
different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA
policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the
proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we
estimate that this proposed AD would
affect about 190 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would
take about 2 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of
this proposed AD. The average labor
rate is $80 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate
the cost of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators to be $30,400, or $160 per
product.
In addition, we estimate that any
necessary follow-on actions would take
about 7 work-hours and require parts
costing $2,000, for a cost of $2,560 per
product. We have no way of
determining the number of products
that may need these actions.
04OCP1
 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 192 / Thursday, October 4, 2007 / Proposed Rules
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code
specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,
section 106, describes the authority of
the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII:
Aviation Programs,’’ describes in more
detail the scope of the Agency’s
authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under
the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII,
Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701:
General requirements.’’ Under that
section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in
air commerce by prescribing regulations
for practices, methods, and procedures
the Administrator finds necessary for
safety in air commerce. This regulation
is within the scope of that authority
because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on
products identified in this rulemaking
action.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that this proposed AD
would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This
proposed AD would not have a
substantial direct effect on the States, on
the relationship between the national
Government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I
certify this proposed regulation:
1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866;
2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the
DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Will not have a significant
economic impact, positive or negative,
on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation
of the estimated costs to comply with
this proposed AD and placed it in the
AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
39 as follows:
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:11 Oct 03, 2007 Jkt 214001
§ 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new AD:
Aircraft Industries, a.s. (Type Certificate No.
G24EU formerly held by LETECKÉ
ZÁVODY a.s. and LET Aeronautical
Works): Docket No. FAA–2007–28980;
Directorate Identifier 2007–CE–071–AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by
November 5, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model L–13 Blanik
gliders, all serial numbers, certificated in any
category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association of America
(ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
prompted by the discovery of cracks on L13
BLANIK sailplanes in zones where the
forward and aft control sticks are attached to
the connecting rod, designated as ‘‘control
bridge’’ in the relevant Illustrated Parts
Catalogues (IPC). If left uncorrected, cracks
could propagate and lead to failure of the
connecting rod with subsequent loss of
control of the sailplane.
For the reasons described above, this AD
requires an inspection of the control bridge
to detect cracks and replacement, if
necessary. In addition, this AD requires an
update of the aircraft Maintenance Manual
(MM) to incorporate repetitive inspections of
the control bridge.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, do the following
actions:
(1) Within the next 3 months after the
effective date of this AD and repetitively
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12
months, inspect the control bridge for cracks.
Follow the procedures in LET Aircraft
Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No.:
L13/105a, dated May 22, 2007, except use a
10× magnifier and do a dye penetrant
inspection following the procedures in
chapter 5, section 5, of FAA Advisory
Circular AC 43.13–1B CHG 1, dated
September 27, 2001.
(2) If cracks are found during any
inspection in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD,
before further flight, install a new control
bridge Dwg. No. (part number (P/N)) A740
370 N or Dwg. No. (P/N) A401 001N
following the procedures in LET Aircraft
Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No.:
L13/105a, dated May 22, 2007.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/
or service information as follows:
(1) The service information requires a
visual inspection with a 6× magnifier. We are
requiring a dye penetrant inspection and a
PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\04OCP1.SGM
56701
10× magnifier to detect cracks that could go
undetected using only a 6× magnifier.
(2) The MCAI requires updating the
maintenance manuals to add ‘‘type A based’’
repetitive inspections of the control bridge.
Since the maintenance manual is only one
way of establishing a maintenance program,
the only way we can mandate these repetitive
inspections is through an AD action.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to
this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to
ATTN: Greg Davison, Glider Program
Manager, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329–4130; fax: (816)
329–4090. Before using any approved AMOC
on any airplane to which the AMOC applies,
notify your appropriate principal inspector
(PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District
Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement
in this AD to obtain corrective actions from
a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective
actions are considered FAA-approved if they
are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required
to assure the product is airworthy before it
is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved the information collection
requirements and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120–0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2007–0212,
dated August 7, 2007; and LET Aircraft
Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No.:
L13/105a, dated May 22, 2007, for related
information.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
September 28, 2007.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7–19619 Filed 10–3–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
04OCP1